The Full Package: Queen Vic

Where has this place been my whole life? Some friends and I rolled into the Queen Vic Pub and Kitchen (2712 Richmond) recently, and let me tell you, this place is the full package. The menu is mostly a fusion of Indian and pub dishes. The short rib samosas -- beer-braised short ribs wrapped in a pastry with a tangy tamarind chutney on the side -- were rich and delicious.

The chef-owner made us a special poutine with ground lamb, and it was amazing. Poutine is made by pouring brown gravy over fries and cheese curds. I think they used paneer, a dry mild Indian cheese, on this version. We also had the Queens Currry, which was a Scotch egg in a spicy curry. The bartender recommended it, and it was truly one of the best dishes I have had in a pub. It was rich, spicy and hard to stop eating, even after I was full.

This place is also a great bar with whiskey drinks and a hell of a wine list, or so my friend who is a wine sniffer says. There's also a great beer program, with nothing but craft beer on tap, like the (512) Brewing Company's Pecan Porter. I kept ordering the Live Oak HefeWeizen because it was refreshing, with flavors of lemon and cardamom. But I started with an artisan cocktail called Kingdom Come. It was made with whiskey, cardamom and muddled citrus, if I remember correctly. The smooth drink was full of aromatic spice flavors.